Lighting strike kills Melbourne woman0:24

A woman in her 20s has died after a freak lightning strike in Chirnside Park. Video: @SunriseOn7

November 25th 2017

4 months ago

A Melbourne woman in her 20s died overnight after being struck by lightning. Picture: Grant SzabadicsSource:Supplied

A WOMAN in her 20s has died after being struck by lightning in Melbourne on Friday night.

The woman and another man in his 20s were injured outside a home on Sunset Drive, in Chirnside Park, in Melbourne’s north east around 8.40pm.

The woman was taken to hospital but died overnight, a Victoria Police spokesman told news.com.au.

The man also sustained injuries but emergency services believe they’re not life threatening at this stage.

Earlier this week, a West Australian racecourse worker who was struck by lightning died in hospital.

Track curating staff member Doug Fernihough, 57, was filling divots at Northam Race Club on November 16 when he was hit by lightning, suffering a heart attack and internal injuries.

He was flown to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment, but died late on Wednesday surrounded by his family.

“On behalf of the Northam Race Club, Racing and Wagering WA and the broader WA racing fraternity, I wish to extend our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to Doug’s family and friends,” RWWA chief executive Richard Burt said on Thursday.

“Doug was a respected member of the WA racing community and his passing will be felt by many within the industry.”

Mr Fernihough’s family, including his wife Pauline and their children, said in a statement last Friday that they were praying for him, and described him as a “true fighter”.

Mr Burt said last week that race meetings were usually suspended when the weather could be seen to be changing and described the incident as a “freak outcome”.

He said he did not see any breakdown in process or procedure, but there would be a review into the incident.